New Columbia store sells cannabis products, including one for your dog

Columbia just got its very own CBD store, which will sell exclusively products made from cannabidoil, a low-THC compound found in hemp that may help alleviate pain, anxiety and insomnia.

The CBD Store is the newest in a string of locations owned by the Lyons family, which started the business in Augusta, Ga., and opened a store in Lexington in August.

Conversations about cannabis have become more frequent in recent years as the state first allowed farmers to plant hemp and then doubled the number of hemp growers in 2019. In December, Congress passed the Agriculture Improvement Act, which, among many other things, legalized hemp and included provisions to help growers better insure their crops and more easily receive loans from banks. South Carolina lawmakers filed bills in the House and Senate on Tuesday to push for legalization of marijuana for medical use.

All this activity has piqued people’s curiosity about marijuana and cannabis products. Because CBD oil won’t get you high but can have some healing properties, it’s often an accessible way in.

“We are offering the health without the high,” said owner Dylan Lyons.

The CBD store specializes in tailoring a customer’s experience to their needs, offering a wide variety of products from gummies you can take before bed to water-soluble drops for the morning and even dog treats to keep pets calm during tense times. A store employee guides each customer through with educational materials at hand if someone is unfamiliar with CBD oil.

The CBD Store’s products start with industrial hemp grown in Evergreen, Colo., and each good is tested in a lab, packaged in Bradenton, Florida, and then shipped to stores. Results from a third-party lab that tests products for quality and purity are also in-store.

CBD oil has not yet been approved by the FDA, but is sold throughout the country in specialty shops and other markets.

The Lyonses say the doors that are opening for hemp — and possibly for medical marijuana — in the state mean more businesses are sure to pop up, which will likely drive costs down. For now, the Columbia location is having a soft opening, but Lyons said the store plans to have an opening party and giveaway in the near future.

Recently, Facebook took down dozens of pages for CBD and hemp businesses after the federal farm bill passed. Some pages were marked as “promoting the sale of prescription pharmaceuticals,” which is against Facebook rules. The CBD Store Lexington had its 9,000-follower Facebook page taken down, and Lyons said he is working with the social media site to have it restored.

Where to go

The CBD Store Columbia is located at 718 Fashion Drive, Suite C. Store hours are Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.